mawhinney



(NoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

s. MAWH'IINNEY.

' 001' 0R SHOE TREE. v No. 374,311.v Patent-ed Dec. 6 1887.

1 1 I a al "l 1 v IC' Q@ j o o s o s o @o s60 l a a f j J l/// ll (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet `2. S. MAWHINNEY.

I BOOT OR SHOE TREE. N0. 374,311. Patented D60. 6, 1887.

WJ7'NE5555 fA/VNTUJ- i yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL MAWHINNEY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF l ONE-HALF TO ROBERT L. GOLBERT, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT OR SHOE TREE.

SPECIFICATION Forming part of Letters Patent No. 374.311, dated December 6,1887.

Application filed June 1S, 1887. Serial No. 241,126. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SAMUEL MAWHINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of XVorcester and State of Massachusetts, Ahave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Trees, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufcientlyfull, cleaigaudexact to enable per sons skilled in the art to' which this invention appertains to make and use the saine. y

The object of my present invention is to provide a treeing apparatus for ioots and shoes, wherein the foot is provide with laterallyadjusting side pieces and expanding devices that are automaticallybrought into action for spreading the foot when it is placed on the body o r leg of the tree and relieved to permit the contraction of the foot when it is removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide a tree having a removable heel-seat piece adapted to slide onto and off from the end of the standard, in the manner hereinafter explained, to facilitate changing for different sizes and shapes of boots or shoes.

Another object is to improve the construction of the tree in various parts and details, as hereinafter more fully described, to render the mechanism more eicient and convenient for use.

The special features ofiny invention and the particular subject-matter claimed are hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View of a boot-tree constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 2a is a similar section of some of the parts, showing the foot latch in depressed position. Fig. 3 is a top view of the leg-frame with the front removed and theheelseat 'piece separate from the leg-frame. Fig. 4 is a transverse section attheposition of line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows details of the latchlever. Fig. 6 is a bottom View of the tree, showing the foot expanded. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the foot with the sides contracted. Fig. 8 is a sideview of the foot with one of the adjustable sole-pieces removed to show the expanding devices. Fig. SLshows a side view of the foot-iron, made with a half-way notch. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the foot at the position of line y y, Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 illustrates a modification of the expanding devices.

Referring to parts, A denotes the leg-frame or metal body having a cylindrical head or journal, A', whereby the tree is supported in connection with the bench and jacking devices, which inay be of the ordinary wellknown construction.

B indicates the back piece arranged between the side brasses or plates,a, which are screwed to the sides of the leg-frame. The back B is adjustably confined by the nut b', in connection with the threaded stud A, and provided with inclined guideways at b, that engage with the inclines on the head C of the strainingrod C, for operation in the usual manner. The front piece, a', of the leg may be of ordinary construction and form, as heretofore employed in boot or shoe trees, and may be rigidly attached to or made integral with theleglframe. D indicates the foot-piece, which I provide with laterally-movable sides or sole-pieces D', that are connected to the main part of the foot by the pivot-studs e, which pass through the forward ends of said sole-pieces, while their rear ends are free to be moved in and out laterally. The rear ends of said solepieces are confined in proper relation to the foot by an overhanging portion thereof, as at d, or in other equivalent suitable manner. The joint between the main part of the foot and movable sides D is preferably made straight, or as a plane inclined to the plane of the rear seating-surface, and a metal plate, d', is attached to the foot to give strength thereto and to form a good bearingsurface for the side pieces, D.

Between the movable sides D', and mounted in bearings connected with the main part of the foot, is an expander or rod, F, carrying right and left inclined guidewaysf, that engage or interlock with lugs or grooved bearing-plates]2 on the inner portion of the adjustable parts D. The end of the rod F is projected through the rear end of the foot, as.

indicated at F in Figs. 7 and 8.

A spring, G, is provided for pressing back the rod F for contraetingthe foot at the ball,

by drawing together the rear ends of the solepieces D. When the rod is forced forward or toward the toe, the sides D are spread apart by the action of the inclines, thus expanding the foot. A guide, d3, is provided for supporting the rod F at a central position and preventing displacement by sidev pressures. The parts D may be cut away internally to give space for the expanding devices, as required.

rIhe foot-iron H, which is fixed to the rear end of the foot, is made dovctailed or beveled at the sides, and fitted to slide into a correspondingly-shaped groove on the leg-frame. Said iron terminates at a position adjacent to the position where the rod F projects from the rear of the foot-piece, so that the latching mechanism will act on both the foot-iron I and the bar F, as hereinafter explained.

The legframe or body is provided with an inclined surface or lug, m, lthat engages the end ,of the bar F when the foot is pressed onto the tree, and forces said bar F toward the toe for expanding the foot.

A latch bar or lever, I, is vpivoted within the leg or frame at t', and is provided with a lug at its rear end, that engages the foot-iron H for retaining the foot in connection with the leg. Said latch-lever is actuated for effecting engagement and disengagement of the foot vby means of an extension on the end of the straining-rod G, which is provided with a ball or lug, c, that passes under the end of the latch-lever when the pull-rod starts backward, (see Fig. 2,) and forces the latch upward past the angle of the foot-iron, and also against the end of the bar F. Then raised,- the straight surface of the latch-bar permits the lug c to be moved along beneath it to any distance without further affecting the action thereof. IVhen at its extreme forward limit, the lug c passes beyond the end of the latchbar, and thus allows the latter to drop away from the foot-iron, and thus release the foot, (see Fig. 2%) so that it can be taken off. y

The automatic lateral expansion of the foot by devices brought into action when placing the foot on the tree, or by the action of the tree-straining devices,V is a feature of my invention.

Ihe foot-iron may be made either straight on its under side, as in Fig. 8, or with an ofi'- set or notch, hf, as in Fig. 8, the former construction being that best adapted for use when treeing long-legged boots, for which the foot D requires to be detached or taken completely off from the body or leg-frame and inserted in the boot before it is put onto the tree, and the latter form is adapted for use when treeing low-toppedboots or shoes, whereinlit is desired to simply draw the foot-piece partially off wit-hout entirelydisengaging it from the body of the tree when taking oft' and putting on the work. In this latter instance the offset or notch h serves as a convenient half-way notch or stop for the foot as it is drawn outward to avoid the slipping of the foot too far.

When employed in a shoe-tree, or with the foot-iron having the notch h, the lever I is best made with aweighted or counterbalancing end, I, as indicated by dotted line, Fig. 2, and as in Fig. 5; but for bootworlr,wherein the foot requires to be taken off from the leg at each operation', said latch is best made without said counterweighting end, or is cut off just back of the pivot-center 11, as at line w on Fig. 5.

K indicates a detachable heel-seat block, which includes the two sides from the bottom of the foot to the ankle, and is fitted to slide on and off from the end of the leg-frame, in the manner illustrated, for effecting interchanges'for different sizes and shapes. Said heel-seat is made with a web or plate, K', connecting its two sides,and with overhanging lips l, that interlock with corresponding grooves, Z, on the reduced end K2 of the leg-frame. The exterior of the part lK2 and the interior of the part K are preferably slightly tapered, so that they will make a close t when the end of the part K abuts against the leg at the ankle-joint J. The heel-seat K is slipped off and onto the part K2 of the leg by endwise movement, andforms a solid body therewith when in position thereon. Portions of the side plates or brasses, a3, are attached to the heel-seat block K, and go with the same when the interchange of the parts K is effected.

P indicates the spring for pressing the straining-rod toward its normal position in opposition to the action of the jacking devices. Said spring is disposed about the rod C within thc leg in the usual manner.

In the operation,when the foot D is removed from the leg B, the side pieces, D', collapse or come together, as in Fig. 7, so that the foot can readily be inserted into or withdrawn from the boot. Vhen placed -in the boot and the boot put onto the leg A, the end of rod F strikes the inclined surface m, and is thereby forced upward as the foot is pressed forward to place, partially expanding the sides. when the latch I is forced up by the action of the straining-rod, the end I of the latch, acting on the end of the bar F, forces said side pieces, D', still farther apart, causing the foot to lill the boot in a full and complete manner.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of the boot-expanding devices,wherein links f4 are used in lieu of inclined lugs for pressing outward the side pieces, D'. Other means may be employed for forcing apart the side pieces, if preferredas, for instance, the side pieces may be extended,as per dotted lines D4 on Fig. 7, so that said ends will engage with a Wedge or double-inclined end on the frame, latch, or straining-rod when the foot is placed on the leg.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In aboot or shoe tree,aremovable foot having the movable sides pivoted at or near the toe and swinging laterally at their rear ends, in combination with an expanding device, substantially as described, adapted for pressing apart the sideslaterally at their rear ends when the foot is placed upon they leg portion of the ree.

2. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination of a foot-piece having movable sides adapted to expand and contract the foot laterally, in combination with expanding mechanism, substantially as described, actuated by thelocking device, whereby the foot is held to the leg of the tree, substantially as set forth.

3. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination, with the foot having the expansible or movable sides, of the reciprocating spindle provided with inclined guides that work in conjunction with inclined guides or lugs on said movable side pieces, the retracting-spring, and a lug or device which engages said spindle and presses it forward when the foot is applied to the leg portion of the tree.

4. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination of the foot having'the laterally-movable sides D', and the adj usting-bar F for effecting their lateral movement connected therewith, and having its end projecting at the seating end of said foot, and the incline m for engaging and actuating said bar, substantially as set forth.

5. In a boot or shoe tree, the foot-piece having a dovetailed foot-iron on its seating end, said foot-iron terminating with its outer end at a short distance back from the sole of the footpiece, in combination with the leg-frame having a foot-seating surface and guiding-grooves to receive said foot-iron and a latch device or hook that locks over the outer end of said footiron when the foot is at normal position on the leg, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination of the foot having the iron H, the latch I, the straining-rod C,provided with the extension or lug c, and the leg-frame A, having guides for said foot-iron and extension, substantially as set forth.

7. In a boot or shoe tree, the foot having the movable sides D', expanding-bar F, and footiron H,in combination with the latch-bar I,piv oted within the leg atz'and furnished with alug that engages said foot-iron and expanding-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a boot or shoe tree,the foot-iron H,pro vided with the notch h, in combination with the foot D, the leg-frame A, and the latch I, substautially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with the foot provided with the foot-iron having notch 7L, of the latching-lever provided with the counter-balance or weighted end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. In a boot or shoe tree, the detachable heel-seat piece K, consisting of the sides and sections of the side brasses, (L3, connected by a web, K2, and extending from the sole to the ankle-jointj',in combination with the foot,and the leg-frame having a reduced end, onto and from which said heclseat can be adj usted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination of the foot having the foot-iron H. and laterallyadjustable sides or sole-pieces D', the expanding-bar F, provided with devices for moving said side pieces, the leg-frame having the incline or lug m, thelatch-bar I, and the straining-rod C, having the extension end provided with boss c,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l2. The combination, with the main part of the foot D and the laterally-adj ustable sides D', of a reciprocating rod or operator disposed bctwcen said side pieces and connected therewith for effecting their lateral movement, and a guide,f, fixed on the main part of the foot, conning said operator and adj ustablesides against displacement by side pressure,substantially as set forth.

13. In a boot or shoe tree, the combination, substantially as described,of the back piece,B, having inclined guides b, the straining rod having a head that engages therewith, the legframe A, having guideways for said rod-head, the detachable foot fitted to said leg-frame with a dovetailed foot-iron, the latch-bar pivoted in said leg-frame and engaging said foot-iron at its rear end, and a latch-actuating device connected with said straining-rod and brought into action by the same movement that throws out the back piece, substantially as set forth. Witness my hand this 11th day ofJune, A. D. 

